NOAA SEC Space Weather Outlook #02-1 — 2 Jan 2002

Official Space Weather Advisory issued by NOAA Space Environment Center
Boulder, Colorado, USA

SPACE WEATHER OUTLOOK #02- 1

2002 January 02 at 02:45 p.m. MST (2002 January 02 2145 UT)

**** SPACE WEATHER OUTLOOK ****

Summary For December 24-30

Space weather reached strong levels during the period due to a major
solar flare. Space weather was at minor levels on December 24 due to
isolated category R1 (minor) radio blackouts caused by moderate-sized
solar flares. A category G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm also occurred on
December 24 due to relatively high solar wind speeds associated with a
coronal hole. Space weather increased to moderate levels on December 25
with a category R2 (moderate) radio blackout at 10:40 p.m. MST (2001
December 26 0540 UT) due to a major flare. Space weather remained at
moderate levels on December 26 due to a category S2 (moderate) solar
radiation storm, which followed a major solar flare. This solar
radiation storm ended on December 28. Several category R1 (minor) radio
blackouts also occurred on December 26. Space weather increased to
strong levels on 28 December due to a category R3 (strong) radio
blackout at 1:45 p.m. MST (2001 December 28 2045 UT), which was caused
by a major solar flare. Space weather decreased to moderate levels on
December 29 due to another major flare-induced category R2 (moderate)
radio blackout at 2:45 a.m. MST (2001 December 29 0945 UT). Several
category R1 (minor) radio blackouts and a category S1 (minor) solar
radiation storm also occurred on December 29. Another category S1
(minor) solar radiation storm began on December 30 and was in progress
as the summary period ended. For a list of adverse system effects
related to space weather storms, please refer to the NOAA Space Weather
Scales.

Outlook For January 2-8

Space weather is expected to be at minor to moderate levels. The
category S1 (minor) solar radiation storm that began on December 30 is
expected to end on January 4. Isolated category R1 (minor) radio
blackouts are expected during the period. There will be a chance for an
isolated category R2 (moderate) radio blackout sometime during the
period as well. There will also be a slight chance for a another
category S1 solar radiation storm. No geomagnetic storms are expected
during the period.

Data used to provide space weather services are contributed by NOAA,
USAF, NASA, NSF, USGS, the International Space Environment Services
and other observatories, universities, and institutions. More
information is available at SEC’s Web site http://sec.noaa.gov or
(303) 497-5127. The NOAA Public Affairs contact is Barbara McGehan
at bmcgehan@boulder.noaa.gov or (303) 497-6288.